Friends from the Blog-o-verse!

I search the internet daily for bloggers that I feel like I connect with,

but rarely do I find any.

I am too old,

or too young.

Sometimes, not religious enough,

or maybe not cool  or hip enough.

I don't have a gaggle of sorority sisters to follow me,

and I haven't been featured anywhere for a slew of people to start following, either.

Honestly, I have been blogging for nearly 4 years and only have 77 followers.

...and of those, I am 99% sure only 10 read on a regular basis.

I want to say I am discouraged, but really...I am not.

I write for me.

It warms my heart putting my words out there.

Knowing I am blessed in so many ways;

Sharing happiness, sadness, adventures, everything.

Every friendship, I have ever had, I feel like I have given my all...all the time.

I guess, that is why I am devoted to this thing--followers or not.

In the end, 

it appears,

it has turned out to be one of my best friends.

Language Lesson from myself...and Jen

Yesterday, after I posted the story about my hubs, I kept looking at the title.

. 

For some reason, it looked wrong to me...it looked long to me, as well, but that is how I write.
I decided to ask a friend of mine about it,
I was pretty sure what needed to be changed,
but I didn't like the way it looked either...LOL.
Thus started this convo:

JEN:1.     PIZZA IS BETTER THAN CHICKEN!

          2.     Thank Goodness you scratched CALIGULA!

ME:  LOL...piizza is just about better than anything!!!!

...and I am sure names will change again...LOL.

I think there should be a comma after hubs in the title????

what do you think?

JEN:Commas are for pauses.  I do not think there should be a comma.

ME:dang it...I meant apostrophe...LOL

JEN:Should be hub’s face as it is a possessive

ME:http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/621/01/

this was great!!!

:I call him hubs...so I think it should be hubs' face????

JEN:In that case hubs’ lol

However you said my hubs in which case I would think it would still be hub’s as opposed to I want to say to hubs’ face. :P

Also following the rules

add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s):

 so it would be hubs’s

ME:but that would be saying my hub and then making it poss...

since I said "my hubs"...I think hubs' face would be OK

but now I am thinking it would be hubs's...LOL

maybe i should blog about this...LOL

JEN:Well there is only one of him! So the singular would be hubs’s but are intending hubs here to be the plural of hub (husband). I’m going with my hubs’s face on this one lol

ME:I am leaving it alone...and using this as tomorrow's blog post...LOL

I guess, maybe...

I found this funny because,

I am a total English/Grammar snob, and if someone corrects me( "Thank you, Former Alice Lloyd College President, Jerry Davis"), 

I feel I should learn from it.

However, I think we own our own language, too.

I pause. I inflict. I pronounce. I enunciate. I write the way I talk.

(Hence, many ellipses for good ol' me.)

I know I use the word THAT waaayyyy too much, but it is what it is. 

I don't write for the Washington Post, New York Times, or the New Yorker...

and probably never will.

My biggest lesson though, is to let it go...to an extent.

Never will I let there, they're, or their go!

EVER...LOL.

Christmas Ornament Exchange

Christmas Fun

So, I follow quite a few blogs that are about, well...nothing. Just gals that like to talk, type, and live life to the fullest. Today I was catching up with Claire over here and came across this great idea.

Turns out, I was too late to sign up...so, I thought I would host my own. I commented about it being a great idea and 10 minutes later I got an email saying there was another girl wanting to do it, too. That quick, I was in like Flynn.


I am so excited about doing this, but really excited about my swap partner. A bit nervous, too. She is about the same age as my eldest daughter...and you have no idea the struggles I have when trying to make or buy her something. However, so glad to see a young lady chronicling  her life and times in this busy, fast-paced, uber high-tech world we live in:

http://somethingforsarah.blogspot.com/

She has 2 middle names, as do both my girls. Studying education, what is better than the teaching profession? She LOVES pinning...don't we all? But as great as she is, I am struggling with 2 known facts about Sarah. One, she is a GA Bulldog 4life; We are a UK Cat family for basketball and an LSU Tiger family for football, I guess I can let her "sports" affiliation slide during this Christmas season. Second, this girl loves the treadmill more than running outside...who loves machines over the great outdoors?...Kids these days...LOL.

Anyway, just wanted to share today's event...and how it has truly put me in the Christmas spirit.

Things I want to say to my hubs face, but can't...it would be too weird, but I want him to know.

• When I eat an apple, and I twist off the stem...I always hope it comes off on the letter "C".
• I like looking at his butt when he has on blue jeans! I mean, I really like to stare at it...LOL.
• I secretly like that it upsets him, when the girls haven't called, text-ed or Skype-d me for a few days. (He knows how heart broken it makes me.)
• He REALLY needs to try pizza...not just bread sticks.
• Getting email at work from him makes me giggle like a school girl.
• I trust him more than anyone in this world...and for some reason, it worries me immensely.
• Love that he sacrifices his wants for me and the girls.
• I can only hope that we do have twin boys named, Churchill and Chamberlain--to go along with my girls, Catarina and Claudia.
• Thinks it is amazing how he has stayed true to his roots without compromising his integrity.
• Wish that he would NEVER have cancer again. Life without his love would be a very long road.

LSU vs Auburn...what is truly important.

LSU, baby!

This may be just another picture to you, but for me...

it is a moment in time I get to share with my lil' LSU gal!

For you, it is a national sports story at NBC.com...(click the link under the pic)

and you get to share it with her, too, but that is not the point of this story...LOL.

See that cutie with the "magenta-a form of purple" shirt on?

Holding up we're #1?

You see her?

I was so excited for this...I went frame by frame on my DVR to look for her in the end zone of the LSU/Auburn game...

and you know what?

I found her.

What a great story for her college scrapbook!

Geaux Tigers!

Geaux Catarina!

Couch to 5K

My hubs has started the Couch to 5k with me. I am already a W-unner, you know a person that will walk-run-walk-run until they reach their destination or time runs out...all depending on why and where they are running. Know what I mean?

I would like to think he has chosen to do this to keep me from being a sad, pitiful soul.
However, turns out he thinks he needs to "get rid of a few pounds".
I am running for that reason too, but also because I LOVE to run...
and I want to do a marathon one day.

Let's see how long this lasts?
LOL

2 gifts...1 week. What gives?

Last week my hubs surprised me with 2 presents,
and last night we marveled at them both.
One was a new spice rack.
He didn't think too much of the rack,
but liked the look of the bottles..I did, too.
We put all the spices in the bottles and then displayed them in our sweet, little kitchen.
Funny thing, My hubs eats NO spices...NONE...not ever!
I was having a ball just smelling them.
Imagine how I will feel when I use them?!!

The other gift was Madagascar vanilla beans; to make homemade vanilla extract.
This was a lovely time for us; slicing beans and filling jars with vodka.
Christmas gifts in 8 weeks.
We were so excited about making this stuff.
Probably like kids do when they start putting chocolate into milk,
but without having to wait 8 weeks.
(*Side note, I ask if he bought the Madagascar beans instead of the Mexican ones simply because of the movie Madagascar...he said, "you know I did". He likes to move it, move it!)

Anyway, I really love my hubs,
yet sometimes I just love "being" with my hubs.
We had a great weekend together.

Mrs. B

Workout Tunes

I have to listen to music when I work out. In fact, if no one is around, I sing when I work out! Music is vital when trying to get your booty movin'.

When making a play list, keep in mind what you will probably do during the workout. For my warm-up, I like "happy" songs: I Gotta Feeling-Black Eyed Peas, My Hallelujah Song-Julianne Hough, and Airplanes-B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams.
However, when I start to really get the blood flowing and the calories burning, I want music that reflects that: Don't Stop Believin'-Journey, Save a Horse-Big & Rich, and maybe something from the Top Gun soundtrack...LOL.

My cool down music is normally something that reflects a pay-off for my hard work: anything from Wicked, Coming Around Again-Carly Simon, or my fave...One Hot Mama by Trace Adkins!
Truly, it does not matter what it is. It just needs to inspire you!
Post a song here...that does just that:
Inspires you!

Mrs. B

Hair bows and old age????

Today, I was so tired from yesterday's events,
and I knew I had Zumba today,
that I put my hair up in a ponytail.
(Yes, a ponytail like high school.)
I took my dress-down day at work
and sauntered in with yoga pants,
a t-shirt,and a sweat shirt on.

I was OK rockin' the pony,
but I one-upped and tied ribbon around it.
It looked cute and youthful,
but then I started thinking,
"for the love of God, I am 38 years old,
should I be wearing a ribbon in my hair?"

Don't get me wrong,
I would not come out of the house in a cheerleader bow.
(Well, I would try not to...LOL.)
However, I think ribbon is different than a bow...
or is this a bow?
And am I too old for this?
LOL
Just wonderin'.
What do you think?

CBB

PS. I love this pic b/c it looks like I was poppin' my collar or something, when in actuality...I was just talkin' with my hands...LOL.

The Christmas Creep

I think it rather funny that there is a term for stores putting out "holiday" stuff months before the holidays. (I have already seen it.) They call it the Christmas Creep. That term is hilarious, and I have used it every day since I heard it. Surely though, you have noticed it. You know, the Christmas tree by the spider web stuff and Santa by a jack o' lantern?

Years ago, we were astonished to find stuff before Thanksgiving.
I mean, I was.
Then slowly, Halloween got meshed with Christmas.
Before we know it, we will be spending our Labor Day holiday off shopping for Christmas. (I managed a Hallmark for 3 years and the third weekend in July was ALWAYS ornament premiere...yes, Christmas ornaments.)

However, there is one retail chain fighting back.
Nordstrom.
They have declared war on the Christmas Creep.
How refreshing?
I think I know where I may do some of my shopping this year!

 Thank you, Nordstrom!

Sons of Anarchy

So, had to decide on a new Netflix series to watch,
and after seeing some posts by this gal
decided to give it a shot.
OMG!
I am hooked.
My hubs is hooked.
WE are hooked.
(Now, I will say, it is probably for different reasons secretly, but we both love the show in general.)

Once you start watching it, you more or less get sucked in by all of it.
The love stories, the bad ass-ness, the fight between good and evil.
The following 2 reasons...LOL.

I am not ashamed to say it,
after watching 3 full seasons,
this could be the best CURRENTLY produced show on television.
For today,
I am ready for a tat,
a biker man that looks like JAX,
and an unlimited amount of money for the 2 of us to spend,

BUT only for a month or 2,
after that,
it would get tiresome being called someones old lady.

Billy Elliott

 

Billy Elliot

Tonight, I watched Billy Elliot.
I started to watch this movie years ago,
but just kept putting it off.
(Kind of like The Hurt Locker presently.)

So glad I watched it now,
instead of then,
because now,
it is like watching a movie
that could have been written about
where I live in this day and time.

It is a mining town, full of manly men,
little boys learning to box (any sport would be the same idea),
little girls learning to dance (insert something girly here),
and the line between girly things and boyish things is defined with a
bold, black line.

However, when one boy defies the life set in motion for him,
he changes those around him,
not just himself,
and his family,
but a whole town! 
I cried and laughed and thought of this town I call home...and wondered...
how would it respond?
...and then I laughed and cried again.

Not sure why, though.

"Doctor's Appointment Date" ...and Antarctica.

 

King Crab

Today cracks me up.
My hubs and I had a date...we both had to go to the doctor at the same time.
We got weighed, then BP, then...really? Does anyone care?
I'm not sure WE cared.
I just know we felt old and actually laughed together, and that was good.

Afterwards, we went to dinner.
Please, don't make me tell you where.
Arrrggghhhh.
OK
It was this place. (Y'all know he loves that place...LOL.)

We sat and talked about sea food,
when my hubs tells me there is going to be a "major" abundance of  king crab,
and that the price is going to plummet.
Really? I need to know this why?
Was he thinkin',
maybe I should call my broker,
and sell all my shares of  Red Lobster?

Turns out he is correct.
http://www.livescience.com/15941-king-crabs-antarctica.html
How funny is it that my mountain man would know this?

He is "Chad B., the science dweeb".
Makes me so proud.

And if that wasn't funny enough,
we started talking about the South Pole,
to which I responded,
"I never want to go there, I feel like I would be upside down,
and that I would fall off."
Oh, how I wish I had a camera at that moment!
My hubs looked at me and grinned and said,
"Please, tell me you do not mean that,
and that you understand the concept of gravity?"

I had to tell him I did not mean it,
but I kinda did.
I mean, 
in the way you thought the couch was surrounded by infested shark water
when you were a kid.
(You know you did.)

Convo went on to include another gravity lesson on Jupiter,
and how it would save us,
and that I should know that because it has so many moons.

I was really turned on by my man's intellect...
and it was one of those days,
where I realized how lucky I am,
to be married to this guy.
...King crab lesson and all.

Remembering 9/11

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/lists/by-name/

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,62151,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_September_11_attacks

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,

The power, and the glory,

For ever and ever.

Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace.

Our Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou among women,

and blessed is the fruit of the womb,

Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Phineas and Ferb (P&F)

I could probably break out in song right now,
b/c you know in your mind you hear the theme play whenever you see P&F,
but I will remain silent
and tell you about why I THINK I really love Phineas and Ferb:

I AM CANDACE.

I spent my summers with my brothers, this was our time together. They were younger than me and opposite of one another. I'm not sure which one was the smart one and which one was the silent one...they were either of these at any given time, but me...I was always Candace. I knew more. I was older. I was cooler...and I didn't see what I had in front of me; Two, out-of-this-world, awesome little brothers!

I am also 99% sure I was always trying to "bust them". No matter, what they were doing, I am sure I was running to find my mother to tell on them. Boys are boys; and regardless of what my lil' bros were doing...they probably shouldn't have been doing it!

Time flies and now 30+ years later,
I wish I had spent more time in their world of trucks, mud, bugs, and God only knows what...LOL.
Just so thankful that a cartoon could come along, instead of therapy,
and remind me just what I had and how lucky I am to still have it..

Millenium Trilogy by Steig Larrson

Watched this trilogy with my hubs over the last few days and it was amazing. Each of the movies were wonderfully crafted stories on their own, but all together, they were mesmerizing. (We did have to read 2 1/2 hours of subtitles per movie, but please don't let that keep you from watching. **I have read that the US will be doing versions of these movies, as well.  Watch them in Swedish before Hollywood ruins them.)

Sad to hear Larsson died,
because if these movies are any indication of his books,
he would have had a prolific career as a mystery writer.

A special text

LSU MOM

My baby started classes today @LSU.

7:30am Chemistry.

On my phone, this is what I awoke to:

Catarina-Bo-Bina: Hey Mom, thanks for getting me to this first day of college.

I'm so glad to have you and I want to say thanks for prepping me to be the woman

I will be after these first years at LSU.

I love you so much.

Catarina, you are greater than anything I could have done on my own.

You make the world a better place and great, GREAT, things lie ahead for you.

I pray.

I love you,
Mom

Kingsport Mall

Truly,
it no longer looks like this,
but rarely is,
where you are,
as important as,
who you are with,
right?
(Wow, that was a lot of commas...LOL.)

Took Claudia-loo shopping today for school clothes, uniforms, dinner, and a movie.
However, didn't seem right buying for one child when the other was not there.
Mr. Chad even came along, as well.

Buying uniforms is never a big deal:
khaki or navy bottoms,
red, white, or navy polo,
socks,
undies,
shoes,
hair bows,
school supplies.

This year, though, 7th grade--something happens to the "tween" brain and it slowly starts morphing into the "teen" brain. Leg shaving, name brands, iPads, I think I got queasy when I bought 2 bikinis and an off-the-shoulder shirt.

Anyway, we watched The Smurfs, and to be honest, it wasn't that bad...and it made me remember, after all that I had been through that day...I still had a 12 year old!

Gnomeo and Juliet

Watched this adorable movie tonight.
Well, I fell asleep somewhere near the end,
but I have read the story it was based on (a time or two),
so I do not feel like I lost anything from the movie.

However, the cuteness of it all was to die for.
I think they are the most adorable gnomes.
Makes me just want to eat'em up.

I noticed  while "google-ing",
Hallmark has a Christmas ornament of this adorable couple this year.
I just want to take this time to say to my hubs and kids...
HINT! HINT!

MERLIN

If you have not seen the show Merlin, you are missing quality television. Of course, it is another BBC show brought to you by the wonders of Netflix. My hubs and I are addicted to this series. It is serious, yet humorous and the acting is perfect for the genre. I actually, feel like I am in Camelot...LOL.

We have noticed some minor continuity issues, but nothing that affects the show itself. It has, also, made me realize there is a tiny bit of  "cougarness" in me, because I love the young Prince Arthur played by Bradley James {insert raawwwrrr cat sound}!

Be warned, though...it only plays with the characters of the saga that is King Arthur, Guinevere, the Round Table, and Merlin himself. The story lines are not identical to the legend we know such as Mallory's Le Morte d'Arthur and my former professor, Dr. Ken Tiller would probably stroke out at the inaccuracies, but it is telly and from my point of view...darn, good telly!

I just hear words...

cherry-picker
receiver
node
amps
router
RF changes
HD
optical lasers
CCAP
Tony

Yes, at my new job...the only real word I understood today, was Tony...LOL.
However, I actually like working at a place where my communication degree may be utilized...or it may not. Considering, my degree covers rhetoric and theory and will never be used in the real world, "thanks UVA-Wise, what a way to spend $40k"...I can only hope that I will learn something on the technical side of communication and develop my skills on a whole different level.
Here's to a new chapter for me.

Wealthy in my Friends

I think we ALL have hard days.
The days where,
we may not need Cymbalta,
but we need a shoulder to cry on.

I am really weird about this.
I like to be the shoulder,
but rarely ask for one.

I know I need to sometimes.
Yet, I feel if I reach out...I am saying,
"Poor me, I am weak and need help".

Lately, I have had so many friends, many that are family, to just reach out to me.
I haven't asked for anything...they have just been there.
Inviting me to swim,
calling and asking about my day,
making fun of my "works in progress"...there are several,
praying for my job search,
and my addiction to spray painting everything...LOL.

Anyway, today...I am very wealthy in my friends.
And I am thankful.
CBB

-ing Randomness

Things I am always up for:
singing back up for the Stones on Gimme Shelter
riding in the Cash Cab...it is going to happen!
watching infomercials
crying at sci-fi movies
cooking mac and cheese for eldest baby
making Manwich (on little buns) for youngest baby
acting out WICKED when no one is around
baking homemade angel food cake or any kind of cupcakes
driving to LA for the weekend...just to smile...and see smiles
going that extra lap to make 2, maybe 3, miles
blogging about my life
having those I love laugh
laughing with those I love

Really try-ing to get back into the swing of things.
Today's randomness was courtesy of me half awake and half asleep...
think-ing about my blog!

Google +

Got my invite to Google+ and am super excited about using it. Roughly 10 million users are on board, but I am still having issues with finding people to add to my circles, and knowing just what to do...LOL.

I am a total Google addict, along with FB. I love FB, but I really just use it now to creep on pictures, play games, and keep up with my kids. I think it is over crowded with ads and non-sense.

Everyone knows about my SUPER-crush on hoodie-wearing Zuckerburg, so I don't want to abandon him, but I am really looking forward to something new...and hey, I hear he uses Google+, too.

Me, the bestie, and the kids...minus 1.

Today we hiked the beautiful Natural Bridge in Slade, KY.
It is one of my favorite places in the state and this was a great day to do it.
The weather was hot, but not too bad since we hiked somewhat early in the day!
Plus, I got to spend it with some of the people I love MOST in this world: my bestie and her 2 babies and my little buttercup. (None of which are at the age that they would allow us to call them babies or buttercups in public.) However, my other baby wasn't with us, (We missed you, Catarina!) but we pretended she was there in spirit.

I love the top pic of the youngest ones, both 12...going on 16!
I have to believe, in this moment, their little minds reveled in all that was not technology
and just allowed themselves to be consumed by the beauty of their surroundings!!!!
In actuality, they were just concerned with the paddle boats below...LOL.

Which then brings us to lunch after the hike...
and the fact that C2 was the 1st to pull out the phone to text...LOL.
Awwww, what has apple and Steve Jobs made us into?
I know...putty in their hands.

Finally, our homage to Catarina.
We saved her a seat @ the table with us...and quietly, to myself, I thanked God for all my blessings!
What a wonderful day!

Cut-Thru Adventures

 The Start of the Adventure

 Getting ready to "tube" through the

Cut-Thru.

 Our "Helm's Deep" pic of the Cut-Thru...LOL.

(We are total nerds.)

 Love this pic of Claudia looking at the scenery.

 My hinky foot, Mr. Chad's knees, Claudia's foot...

and the beautiful Big Sandy in front of us!

 Mr. Chad chillin'.

 The Cut-Thru.

(The water below is where we were tubing earlier.)

Claudia and mr.Chad...wwaaayyyy above sea level!

Catarina wanted to go kayaking/canoeing when she was here last month, but the Cut-Thru Adventures place was closed on Memorial Day, so we had to issue her a rain check. We, of course, joked with her about how Claudia would love to do it this summer while she was here and how sorry we were that we could not take her...LOL. We were really trying to rub it in just to tease her.

Well, Claudia's turn came up and we drove to Pikeville to take her canoeing. When we got there, we were informed that "innertubing" was an option. Really? You can inner tube down the Big Sandy?...Yes, you can!

It was wonderful and bizarre at the same time!

First, let me explain what the "cut-thru" project it.
According to the Kentucky Tourism website:(http://www.kentuckytourism.com/things_to_do/featured_attractions/pikeville-cutthru-project/4365/)
                                     The Pikeville Cut - Through Project was conceived by visionary and former Mayor William C. Hambley, a life long resident of Pikeville. The Cut-Through Project began in 1973 and was completed after 14 years of constant construction. The project created over 400 acres of usable land for civic expansion and growth by the 18 million cubic yards of earth that were moved. The Cut - Through Project has freed Pike County from the floods that plague so many Eastern Kentucky counties and is to date the second largest earth moving project in the world.


Wow, who knew?...and right here in my own backyard!
Anyway, all you locals, if you get a chance...this is well worth the money!
Just $10 a tube for almost 4 hours of water time!
It was a fun, family day.

Life is good floating in a river..on an inner tube!

Happy Anniversary, Chad Boyd!

Three years ago today...
I married the man of my dreams.
A stand-up guy to all.
Someone that loves me no matter what...
Mr. Chad,
you are a kind and loving person.
I know I say that all the time,
but it is always true.

Our everyday life is not easy.
We are opposite in ways that people can only imagine,
but marriage is a job.
One that each of us has to work at daily.
Thanks for being there, kid!
...and giving it all that you've got.

CBB

Come Monday...it will be alright.

Spending some much needed time catching up on my blog.
Well, mainly reading those that I follow...LOL.
Have decided that it isn't worth throwing away...and I will pick things back up on Monday.
June 20, 2011!

I have been editing posts that I have written, but not posted.
(Should have just left them alone...they weren't half bad.)
So check back with me soon...
Read...
follow...
enjoy your life and who you are...
and blog yourself.

CBB

Catarina's Grad Party

Celebrated my daughter's graduation today with an Open House/Party.
Lots of family and friends spent the day with us
at The Garfield House in Pikeville, KY.
It was a glorious and sunny day.
Perfect for good food and laughter.

My heart is so appreciative to all those that chose to spend the day with her.
A very BIG thank you to Robin of Robin's Cakes
for letting Catarina's cake be one of her last before her retirement.
Oh, and a special "shout out" to my hubs for doing a video at the last minute.
The Girls and I love you!
Again, thanks to everyone for celebrating with us!

 FAB cake...tasted like a little piece of heaven.

 Molly, Karen, and Callie

 Nana and Uncle Jamie

 Ty, a few hours before his own graduation!

 Aunt Fern, Sissy Rhonda, and V

 Peg, me, Gina

 Papaw Jeff

 Mr. Chad, me, Catarina, Charles, Phil, Junlina, and Ty

 Karen, Catarina, V

 Catarina and Peg!

 JD, Catarina, and Miss Mary

 Catarina, Ms. Christie, and Chris

 The Buettners

Grandma Nona, Charles, Catarina,  Grandpa Bob,

Emma, and Uncle Ray

 Aunt Jamie, Catarina, Uncle Bunny

Catarina and Aunt Black